Pegasus World Cup Turf ambitions take a global turn this month, with Goodwood Racecourse in England hosting two Group 1 qualifiers that feed into the 2026 Pegasus World Cup Day at Gulfstream Park. As elite European turf horses compete for automatic berths, the U.S. scene watches another rising filly’s return—Anna’s Promise—as trainer Carlos David eyes summer stakes targets.
Goodwood to Host Pegasus World Cup Turf Qualifiers
The July 30 Group 1 Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes and the Visit Qatar Nassau Stakes will each grant winners direct entry to marquee turf events on the Pegasus program. The Sussex, run over a mile for older horses, feeds into the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1), while the 1¼-mile Nassau for fillies and mares acts as a qualifier for the $500,000 Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (G2).
Among the Sussex entries is former U.S. standout Carl Spackler, now racing for China’s Yulong Investments. The multiple Grade 1-winning turf star debuted at Gulfstream Park and captured eight of 12 U.S. starts before finishing sixth in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot.
The Nassau also brings familiar names, including Crimson Advocate, winner of Gulfstream’s Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies in 2023 before capturing the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot. Now a fixture in Europe, she recently ran third in the Falmouth Stakes (G1) at Newmarket after taking the Conqueror Stakes at Goodwood.
Past Pegasus World Cup Turf results have validated international talent. Irish-bred Magic Wand finished second in 2019 and 2020, while Aidan O’Brien’s Warm Heart captured the 2024 Pegasus Turf in track-record time. Both mares faced males, signaling the high quality of European contenders.
Details on Pegasus Day stakes structure are available on RaceBuzz’s Pegasus World Cup hub, while the Goodwood official site offers full entry information.
Anna’s Promise Building Back for Late Summer Stakes
While Europe sharpens turf blades, Carlos David’s Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) runner-up Anna’s Promise continues to regroup after a taxing spring that included a fifth-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) behind unbeaten Good Cheer.
Claimed in February by Bell Racing for $50,000, Anna’s Promise quickly graduated from maiden to allowance company before running second in the Gulfstream Park Oaks and earning a shot at Churchill Downs. She has since worked twice at Palm Meadows, with her latest clocked in 49.10 seconds for a half mile on July 6.
“She wasn’t 100 percent coming out of her last work,” David explained of her Azalea Stakes scratch. “She left some feed, so we hit pause. Now she’s back on track and doing well.”
Her last start came in the Monomoy Girl Stakes at Churchill, where she briefly led before tiring late. “Luis [Saez] just missed the break a little. It was a small field, and the timing wasn’t right,” David said. “But she’s good. She’ll be back.”
David is eyeing several targets: the seven-furlong Audubon Oaks (Aug. 10, Ellis Park), the prestigious Test Stakes (G1) at Saratoga (Aug. 2), the Charles Town Oaks (G2) on Aug. 22, and the Prioress Stakes (G2) on Aug. 30.
“I like her at seven-eighths. The Test might be a little much, but she belongs in the conversation,” he said. “We’re mapping it out week by week. There are some Oaks-type races at smaller tracks that suit her style.”
Whether back in listed company or taking a crack at another Grade 1, Anna’s Promise is expected to return in August and resume her promising career path. Her story, like many others, continues to evolve on both sides of the Atlantic as the road to the Pegasus World Cup Turf intensifies.
For more updates on Anna’s Promise and the Pegasus World Cup Turf trail, visit Gulfstream Park’s official website and explore the RaceBuzz international news section.
